This study is a comparison of two techniques for endotracheal intubation (Glidescope versus Macintosh) in patients with odontogenic abscesses.

Patients with odontogenic abcesses have to be treated by surgical drainage of the abscess under general intubation with endotracheal intubation. Because of a limited mouth opening and swelling within the oral cavity, intubation can be difficult and sometimes impossible with conventional direct laryngoscopy. Therefore, alternative techniques are desirable. We want to compare the success rate of intubation in these patients using the Glidescope technique vs. conventional Macintosh technique.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients have to have an abscess which has to be treated surgically.
• Mouth opening (Inter-incisor gap) has to be less than 3.5 cm and more than 1.4 cm.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age under 18 years.

We want to study patients, who present with a odontogenic abscess for surgical treatment.